KUCHING: Sarawak has officially offered to host the Borneo Games 2025 as part of efforts to revive the legacy of sports among Borneo regions.

Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the Borneo Games is an important legacy worth bringing back to life.

“With its inaugural edition held in 1955 and the most recent in 2013 in Labuan, this event has long served as a symbol of unity, sportsmanship, and cultural ties among the Borneo territories,” he said.

He told reporters after participating in a courtesy call by Brunei Darussalam Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Seri Setia Awang Nazmi Awang Mohamad to Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex on Monday.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim added that the Sarawak Premier has expressed the state government’s readiness and full support to host the new edition of the Borneo Games.

In fact, he said this aspiration was also shared during the Official Dinner of the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXI) Sarawak 2024.

According to him, the main objective of hosting the event is to foster a spirit of sportsmanship and friendship among the youth of Borneo, promote Sarawak as a premier sports tourism destination, and further strengthen diplomatic, cultural, and social ties among the participating regions.

To ensure continuity and effective management of the games, he also proposed the establishment of the Borneo Games Supreme Council, an official body comprising ministers and heads of sports departments from six regions, namely Brunei Darussalam, Sarawak, Sabah, Federal Territory of Labuan, East Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan.

“Such sports events can also contribute economically and boost our tourism sector, while enhancing the visibility of our local handicrafts, some of which are often chosen as souvenirs,” he added.

As for the venue, he said Kuching was chosen due to its strategic location in terms of logistics, accommodation, and media coverage.

Earlier, Dato Sri Abdul Karim and representatives from each region held a meeting regarding the Borneo Games 2025 at his office in Baitul Makmur 2 before paying a courtesy call at the Sarawak Premier's Office.

Also present at the meeting were Dato Seri Setia Awang Nazmi, Head of the Youth and Sports Department of East Kalimantan Province, HM Agus Hari Kesuma, SE, MM, MSi, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, Consul General of Brunei Darussalam in Sarawak, Sheikh Abdul Mahdani Dato Paduka Sheikh Abdul Gani, Sarawak Deputy Ministers for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu and Datuk Dr. Ripin Lamat, as well as Permanent Secretary to the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Morshidi Fredrick. -UKASnews